Liquid-peed system



M. A. FESLER.

LIQUID FEED SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1918.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1

I 22 Ver1t 01" M. A. FESLEH. LiQUlD FEED SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAFLZQ, 1918.

1,365,164. Patented Jan. 11,1921

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- r' s Ji M. A. FESLER.

LIQUID FEED SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29, 1918.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, .Irzvenor 93 m Q. M

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON A. FESLER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO PETROLEUM HEAT AND POWER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

LIQUID-FEED SYSTEM.

Application filed. March 29, 1918.

To all whom it may cmwemt:

Be it known that I, MILTON A. FEsLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Liquid-Feed Systems, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention hereinafter described relates to liquid feed systems, andmore particularly to systems for feeding crude oil or other fuel from areservoir to a burner.

It is frequently desirable to locate the reservoir for the oil beneaththe level of the burner. For example, fire precaution sometimes dictatesthat the reservoir shall be in a pit outside of the building containingthe burner and beneath the level of the floor on which the furnaceemploying the burner is located. The present invention, among otherobjects, provides means for automatically raising and feeding the oilfrom the reservoir to the burner, which is cheap and simple inconstruction and efficient in operation. v r

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference tothe following description of one good form thereof shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure l in elevation shows a liquid feedsystem embodying the invention installed for the purpose of supplymg oilto an oil burner for a furnace;

Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale is a side elevation of tilting tank devicefor automatically producing a vacuum or pressure reduction in a suctionchamber associated with the oil supply reservoir;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device shown in Fig. 2; v

Fig. i on an enlarged scale is a transverse section taken on line l'4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale is a vertical section through the suctiontank;

Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale is a vertical section through the burner;and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the system shown therein as one embodiment ofthe invention, is installed for supplying oil to a burner 1 for afurnace 3 of usual construc- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Serial No. 225,575.

tion and unnecessary to show and describe in detail herein. The burnermay comprise a casing or cylinder 5 (Fig. 6) adapted to have air forcedthereto from a suitable source of supply through a pipe 7. Within thecylinder 5 is a Venturi tube 9 having a flaring forward end fitted intosaid cylinder and secured thereto. Passages 11 between the Venturi tubeand the cylinder allow the air to enter an air chamber 13 and passthence through ports 15 into the mixing chamber 17.

The air passing through the Venturi tube draws oil up through a nozzle19 from a bowl 21 conveniently beneath and secured to the cylinder 5. Tomaintain the oil in the bowl at a predetermined level, it may beprovided with a float 23 controlling a me dle valve 25.

The supply of crude oil for the burner may be contained in a reservoir27 (Fig. 1), in the present instance, located in a pit 29 outside of thebuilding containing the burner and beneath the floor 30 on which thefurnace is mounted. The walls of the pit may be of concrete or othersuitable fireproof material to furnish a housing for the reservoir whichwill prevent access of fire thereto. The reservoir may have a tube 31through which the oil may be poured into the reservoir to fill the same,and may have a tube 33 to allow air to enter the reservoir as the oil isdrawn therefrom.

The means for raising and feeding the oil from the reservoir to theburner, in the present instance of the invention, comprises a pipe 35projecting from a point adjacent the bottom of the reservoir through thetop thereofand thence upwardly along a wall 37 of concrete or othersuitable fireproof material separating the room containing the furnacefrom the pit containing the reservoir. A pipe 39 connected to the pipe35 extends through the wall 37 and is connected to'the top of a suctiontank 41 conveniently mounted on a bracket 43 secured to the wall 37 andheld on said bracket by a strap 45 embracing the tank ans secured tosaid wall.

The tank 41 may contain a filling or suction chamber 47 (Fig. 5) and adischarge chamber 4:9. The pipe 39 is adapted to conduct oil from thereservoir directly to the suction chamber 47, the delivery end of saidpipe being provided with a suitable strainer 51 to prevent foreignmatters from being carried by the oil into the suction chamber.

To produce the vacuum or suction in said chamber, a pipe 53 may beprovided, having one end connected to the top of the tank andcommunicating with the suction cham ber, and its opposite end connectedto a device to be described for producing the vacuum or suction effect.To permit interruption of the suction effect in the chamber 4C7 at thetimes required, a valve 55 may be provided at the upper end of saidchamber adjacent the pipe To allow entrance of outside air into thesuction chamber at the times required, a valve 57 may be provided at theupper end of said chamber. The suction and air valves may beautomatically controlled by the level of the oil in the cham ber 47. Toaccomplish this, in the present instance, a float 59 may be mounted insaid chamber and be guided by a stem 61 adapted to project into a port63 projecting from the bottom of the s .ction chamber into the deliverychambcr 19, the lower end of said port being provided with a flap valve05. The upper end of said float is provided with a stem 67 connected toone end of a lever 69, the opposite end of which is pivotally connectedto a member 71 depending from the top of the tank. Upward movement ofthis lever may be limited by en agement of a lug 73 thereon with a stopformed in said member. The lever 69 may be connected by a link 75 withan 77 fast on a shaft 79 journaled in a fork 81 depending from the topof the tank. rin arm 83 loose on said shaft is connected to the suctionvalve 55 and the air valve 57. ii pair of springs 85 may have theiropposite ends connected to lugs projecting from the outer ends of thearms 77 and 83. The construction is such that when the float rises, itwill tilt the arm 77 in a clockwise direction and move the ends of thesprings connected thereto up past the shaft 79. As soon as this occurs,the springs will contract, rock the arm 83 in a contra-clockwisedirection, and snap the suction valve to its seat and the air valve fromits seat. When the float lowers, it will tilt the arm 77 in acontra-clockwise direction, thereby moving the ends of the springsattached thereto down past the shaft 79. As soon as this occurs, saidsprings will contract and rock the arm 83 in a clockwise di rection,thereby snapping the suction valve from its seat and the air valve 55 toits seat.

The discharge chamber d9 may be continuously opened to the outsideatmosphere through an annular passage 87 surrounding the suction chambera7, and communicating with port 89 communicating in turn with a pipe 91connected to the top of the tank above the air valve 57, referred to,said pipe serving also to adi lit air to the suction chamber when thevalve 57 is opened.

To deliver the oil from the discharge chamber to the bowl 21 beneath theburner, a pi; e 98 may be provided having its upper end 95 projecting asubstantial distance up, into the discharge chamber to trap any sedimentin the oil, the opposite end of said pipe 98 being connected to sailbowl. Any sediment accumulating in the discharge chamber may be flushedtherefrom through a pet cock 97.

Suitable means is provided for producing the vacuum or suction effect inthe chamber 17. To accomplish this, the pipe 53, referred to, isertended upward along the wall 37 to a tank 99 of steel or othersuitable material, and conveniently having a cylindrical body 101 (Figs.2 and 3) having bumped heads 103 and 105. This tank may be seated on asupport 107 (Fig. 1) conveniently of T- shaped form and presenting studshafts 109 and 111 journaled in bearings 113 and 115 mounted. on a be. e117 supported by a bracket 119 1) conveniently secured to the wall abovethe suction tank 11. The tank 99 and its support 107 are adapted to tilton the axis of the shafts 109 and 111 to the full line and dotted linepositions shown in Fig. 2. The shaft 109 may have a duct 120 (Fig. 1)communicating with the pipe 53, and with a duct 121 extending upwardlythrough the support 107 and communicating with a pipe 123 projectingtoward the top of the tank 99. To prevent leakage between the duct 119and the pipe a stufiing box may be provided therefor comprising a gland125 threaded into a counter-bore in the end of the shaft 109, andconfinin suitable packing material 127 between them.

ll hen the tank is in its inclined position shown in dotted lines inFig. 2, water may flow into said tank from the city main, and when thetank tilted to its horizontal position shown in full lines in Fig. 2,the water may flow from said tank to produce a vacuum or a partialvacuum therein. To accomplish this, in the present instance, a duct 1294) may be formed in the support 107 and have one end communicating withthe interior the tank 99, and its opposite end communicating with a duct131 in the shaft 111. The duct 131 also communicates with a pipe 133communicating with a valve casing 1355 (Figs. 2 and mounted on a tube137 on a base 139. The tube 137 is connected to a pipe 111 (Fig. 1)which may project around the edge of the bracket 119 beneath the samethrough the wall. 37 and lead to the city main and receive watertherefrom.

To control the entrance of water into the tank, the valve casing 135 maybe provided with a valve 1 1 (Fig. 3) cooperating with a seat 1 15 andhaving a stem slidable in a hollow stem 1 17 projecting through a neck149 rising from said valve. The valve is urged to its open position by ahelical spring 151 confined between the upper end of the neck 149 and ahead 153 on said stem 147. A spring 143 confined between the valve andthe end of the stem 147 tends to move the valve downward until limitedby en gagement of a pin 143 with the ends of slots in the stem 147. Theconstruction is such that when the tank tilts downward, it will engagethe head 153, thrust the stem 147 downward, and move the valve 143 toits seat and shut off the supply of water to the tank. When the tanktilts upward, it will release the valve, and the spring 151 will liftthe latter from its seat and admit water to the tank. 4

Means may be provided to permit the water flowing from the tank toescape to the sewer. To accomplish this, in the present instance, ashort pipe 155 (Figs. 2 and 3) connects the valve casing 135 with avalve casing 157 mounted on a tube 159 on a base 161, said tube beingconnected to a pipe 163 leading to the sewer. A valve 165 in said casing157 cotiperates with a seat 167 and is controlled by a stem 169projecting upward through a neck 171 rising from the casing 157. Thevalve 165 is urged toward its seat by a helical spring 173 confined between the upper end of the neck 171 and a head 175 on said stem. Theconstruction is such that when the tank tilts it engages the head 175,thrusts the stem 169 downward, and opens the valve 165 to allow thewater to flow from the tank, and when the tank tilts upward, the spring173 becomes effective to close the valve to its seat and prevent escapeof water from the tank.

It will be noted that the water inlet valve 143 is above its seat,whereas the valve 165 is beneath its seat. Consequently, downward tiltof the tank closes the valve 143 and opens the valve 165, and upwardtilt of the tank allows the valve actuating springs to open the valve143 and close the valve 165.

To prevent leakagebetween the shaft duct 131 and the pipe 133, as theformer rocks relatively to the latter, a suitable stuffing box may beprovided therein, comprising a gland 177 threaded into a counter-bore inthe end of the shaft 111 and confining suitable packing material 179between them.

To tilt the tank upward after the water has discharged therefrom, it maybe provided with a counterbalance weight 181 (Fig. 2) on the outer endof an arm 183 secured to the support 107. To permit water to flow intothe tank, but prevent ingress of air into the tank When the water flowstherefrom, suitable valve means may be provided, in the presentinstance, in the form of a cylinder 185 (Figs. 2 and 3) having a port187 communicating with the tank,

and ports 189 communicating with said port and with the outside air. Aball valve 191 is urged downwardly to close the port 187 by a helicalspring 193 confined between said ball valve and a plug 195 threaded intothe upper end of the cylinder 185. A suitable stop 197 (Fig. 2) may beprovided to limit the tilting of the tank to its dotted line position.

The operation of the system is as follows:

Assuming the tank 101 to be in its inclined position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2, the water inlet valve will be opened and the waterdischarge valve will be closed. Then the pressure on the water in thecity main will force the water through the pipe 141, the tube 137, thevalve casing 135, pipe 133, and thence through the ducts 131 and 129into the tank 99, the ball valve 191 autoy matically opening to allowair in the tank above the water to escape therefrom. When a sufficientamount of water has accumulated in the tank, the latter will tiltdownward, thereby closing the water inlet valve and opening the waterdischarge valve. This will allow the water to flow from the tank throughthe ducts 129 and 131, through the pipe 133, the valve casing 135, thepipe 155, the valve casing 157, the tube 159, and thence through thepipe 163 to the sewer. The ball valve 191 is automatically forced to itsseat and thus prevents entrance of air into the tank as the water flowstherefrom. As a consequence, a vacuum or partial vacuum will be producedin said tank. This vacuum or suction eifect will be transmitted throughthe pipe 123 in the tank, through the ducts 121 and 119, and through thepipe 53 to the suction chamber 47. The vacuum or suction effect in thischamber will in turn be transmitted through the pipe 35 to the oilreservoir, thereby drawing the oil from the reservoir into the suctionchamber. The oil will be prevented from flowing from the dischargechamber 49 into the suction chamber 47 by the flap valve 65 which willbe held to its seat by the suction produced in the chamber 47. Aftersufiicient oil has accumulated in the suction chamber 47, the float 59will rise, thereby closing the suction valve 55 and opening the airvalve 57. Air will then enter the suction chamber through the pipe 91,and the vacuum therein will be lost. This will allow the flap valve toopen and permit the oil to flow from the suction chamber into thedischarge chamber, and thence through the pipe 93 to the bowl 21 and tothe burner, the oil being maintained at the level required in said bowlby the float actuated needle valve 25.

After a sufiicient amount of oil has flowed from the suction chamber,the float 59 will lower, thereby automatically opening the suction valve55 and closing the air valve 57. The tank 99 is automaticallyintermitref:

tently tilting and producing a suction effect in the pipe 53, so that onopening of the suction valve 55, a vacuum or suction effect will beproduced in the suction chamber 4L7, and oil will be drawn therein fromthe reservoir. Then the cycle of operations described will be repeatedas before. The operation of the system is such that the oil iscontinuously automatically supplied from the reservoir to the burner asrequired.

In installing the system, care should be taken that the distance of thetilting tank above the level of the sewer is greater than the distanceof the vacuum tank above the bottom of the reservoir, in order that theleg of water discharged from the tilting tank may be greater than theleg of oil lifted. Otherwise the tilting tank would not be effective toproduce the suction in the suction chamber sufficient to lift the oil tothe height required.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiment shown, but that various deviations may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims:

1. The combination with a burner, of a fuel supply reservoir, and meansto raise the fuel from said reservoir to said burner including a suctionchamber communicating with said reservoir, a support, a tank movablymounted thereon having provision for receiving and delivering successivecharges of liquid for producing suction effect in said chamber to drawfuel from said reservoir into said chamber, said tank beingintermittently moved on its support by the weight of the liquid charges,valve means automatically operated by movements of said tank to controlthe admission of the liquid into and the discharge of the sametherefrom, and means to deliver the fuel from said chamber to saidburner.

2. The combination with a burner, of a fuel supply reservoir, and meansto raise the fuel from said reservoir to said burner com prising asuction chamber, a support, a tank mounted to tilt on said support andhaving provision for receiving and delivering successive charges ofliquid to produce suction effect in said chamber, said tank beingintermittently tilted on its support by the weight of the liquidcharges, valve means automatically operated by movements of said tank tocontrol the admission of the liquir into and the discharge thereoftherefrom, a float in said chamber, and valve means actuated by saidfloat for controlling the discharge of fuel from said chamber to saidburner.

3. The combination with a burner, of a fuel supply reservoir, and meansto feed the fuel from said reservoir to said burner including a suctionchamber, a support, a tank movably mounted thereon having provision forreceiving and delivering successive charges of liquid to produce suctioneffect in said chamber to draw fuel from said reservoir into saidchamber, said tank being intermittently moved on its support by theweight of the liquid charges, valve means automatically operated bymovements of said tank to control the admission of the liquid into andthe discharge thereof thereform, a suction valve and an air valve forsaid chamber, a float in said chamber, and means actuated by said floatfor opening and closing the valves for said chamber.

4:. The combination with a burner, of a fuel supply reservoir, a suctionchamber communicating with said reservoir, a support, a tank movablymounted thereon having provision for receiving and delivering successivecharges of liquid, said tank being intermittently moved on its supportby the weight of the liquid charges, a valve to admit liquid into saidtank, a valve to permit escape of the liquid from said tank, a pipeconnecting said tank and chamber, that suction effect produced by flowof the liquid charges from said tank may be transmitted to said suctionchamber to draw fuel from said reservoir into said chamber, meansautomatically to operate said valves by movements of said tank tocontrol admission into and delivery of the charges of liquid from saidtank, and means to deliver the fuel from said chamber to said burner.

The combination with a burner, of a fuel supply reservoir, and means tofeed fuel from said reservoir to said burner including a suction chambercommunicating with said burner, a support, a tank movably mountedthereon communicating with said chamber and having provision forreceiving and delivering successive charges of liquid, said tank beingintermittently moved on said support by the weight of the liquidcharges, valve means automatically operated by movements of said tank tocontrol the admission of the charges into and the delivery thereof fromthe tank, and valve means to permit air to enter said tank as the liquidflows therein and prevent air entering said tank as the liquid flowstherefrom, that the suction effect produced by the flow of the liquidfrom the tank may be transmitted to said chamber to draw the fuel fromsaid reservoir into said chamber.

6. The combination with a burner, of a fuel supply reservoir, and meansto feed fuel from said reservoir to said burner including a dischargechamber, a suction chamber communicating with said reservoir anddischarge chamber, a support, a tank movably mounted thereon havingprovision for receivin and delivering successive charges of liquid toproduce suction effect in said suction chamber, said tank beingintermittently moved on said support by the weight of the liquidcharges, valve means automatically operated by movements of said tank tocontrol the admission of the liquid into and the discharge thereoftherefrom, and means for delivering the fuel from said discharge chamberto the burner.

7 The combination with a reservoir, of a burner, and means to feed fuelfrom the reservoir to said burner comprising a suction chamber, asupport, a tank movably mounted thereon having provision for receivingand delivering successive charges of liquid to produce suction effect insaid chamber for drawing the fuel from said reservoir into said chamber,said tank being intermittently moved on its support by the weight of theliquid charges, valve means automatically operated by movements of saidtank to control the admission of the charges into and the delivery ofthe charges from the tank, and means for delivering the fuel from thelivering successive charges of water to produce suction efiect in sa1dchamber for drawing the liquid from said reservoir into said chamber, 4said tank being intermittently moved on said support by the weight ofthe water charges, and valve means automatically operated by movementsof said tank to control the admission of the charges of water into andthe delivery of the charges of water from said tank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MILTON A. FESLER.

